Governor Terry Branstad.
Governor Terry Branstad has joined a federal lawsuit that challenges new federal rules on the oversight of smaller waterways, tributaries and wetlands.
“We believe its an overreach by the EPA and the Corps of Engineers,” Branstad says. “Iowa already has a nutrient reduction strategy. This is just going to slow things down and increase the costs.”
Thirty-one other states are challenging the so-called “Waters of the U.S.” rule in court. The rule is on hold as lawsuits make their way through the court system. Critics say the rule will give federal officials the authority to tell farmers what they can and cannot apply on their fields. Supporters of the rule say it will protect bodies of water from development and pollution.
(Reporting by Woody Gottburg, KSCJ, Sioux City)